Sidebar Site Navigation

Soccer Brings Nepali Community Together

July 18, 2012 — Far from home, a group of University of Wyoming students
from Nepal enjoys the cool summer evening playing soccer on the recreation fields on the east end of campus.

The 20 or so Nepali students join a few locals and other
international students in spirited games. About 50 students from Nepal remain
in Laramie during the summer.

“Laramie has one of the most beautiful summers anywhere, and
playing soccer is a great outdoor activity,” says Basant Giri, a Ph.D. student
in chemistry. He says students can play in the evening and still have time to
do research and class assignments.

Soccer is one of the major games played in Nepal, and Giri
says the Nepali football team is one of the best in south Asia.

“We play outdoor soccer during the summer and indoor
volleyball during winter,” says Loknath Adhikari, a Ph.D. student in
atmospheric science.

Team leader Pradeep Neupane adds that these group games
enhance friendship among the community members. Additionally, the students
sometimes organize outdoor picnic and potluck events around Laramie.

When they aren’t playing, the Nepali students watch soccer
on TV, and got together to view EuroCup 2012 and the 2010 World Cup.

“I believe every Nepali loves soccer,” says one of the team
leaders, Sankar Tamang, former president of FNUW (Friends of Nepal at
University of Wyoming).

He says FUNW organizes talk programs, offers welcome
and farewell events for its members, celebrates their new year in April and sponsors
big festivals during September and October.

Recently, UW has started a collaboration with Nepali
universities and research centers to exchange knowledge and train students and
faculty members.

Photo:Students from Nepal play soccer nearly every evening at the
UW fields.